Method for Ladder Ranking in a Game

ABSTRACT

Methods for creating an interactive gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, methods of the present invention may include initializing an interactive game application at a game server which is then characterized as having an active status, notifying a lobby server concerning the active status of the game server, registering the application with a universe management server via the lobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gaming environment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may be identified by a server key obtained from the game server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/218,581, filed Jul. 15, 2008, nowU.S. Pat. No. ______ and entitled “Creating and Interactive GamingEnvironment,” which is a divisional and claims the priority benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/359,359, filed Feb. 4, 2003, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,711,847 and entitled “Managing Users in a Multi-UserNetwork Game Environment.” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/359,359claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser.No. 60/376,115, filed Apr. 26, 2002 and entitled “Multi-User ApplicationProgram Interface.” The disclosure of each of the aforementionedapplications is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to computer networks and, moreparticularly, to creating an interactive gaming environment over acomputer network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Computer networks, such as local area networks and the Internet, areincreasingly being used as the backbone for various transactions andinteractions between parties. From online banking, where bank customerscan initiate financial transactions over a computer network, to onlinegaming, where garners can participate in real-time gaming over theInternet, service providers are increasingly supporting a variety ofservices over computer networks. There are currently a variety ofdifferent computer network configurations that facilitate thetransactions and interactions that take place.

Many of the online applications involve multi-user applications, whichare computer programs that are executed on a computer system and whichallow multiple geographically separated participants to interact withthe computer program and other participating users in an applicationenvironment. For example, gaming is a popular multi-user applicationthat is increasing in popularity. An aircraft simulation game can enablemultiple participants to pilot their respective virtual aircraft withinan airspace, and can enable the participants to interact with otherparticipants in their aircraft in the same airspace. Thus, the onlinegaming application provides a single application environment or universein which multiple participants maneuver.

To support multi-user applications, such as online gaming, withgeographically dispersed application users, such as game participants,and to support real-time interaction among the users in the applicationenvironment, it has been necessary to share information about everyparticipant in the environment. For example, in an aircraft simulationapplication, it becomes necessary to share information about theairplanes for each of the participants, including aircraft size, speed,altitude in three-dimensional space, appearance details, virtualenvironment details (such as buildings and terrain), and the like. Suchinformation permits the computer at each participant to properly keeptrack of game developments and determine the actions being performed byeach of the participants. This permits each participant to obtainproperly rendered visual images on the participant's viewing display.

The amount of information that must be shared among all of theparticipants can become daunting and can result in bandwidthdifficulties. The amount of information that must be shared amongparticipants is so great that it has inhibited the development of onlinegaming and other online multi-user applications. A technique fordistributing the management of online applications is described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,841,980 to R. Waters et al. entitled Distributed System forCommunication Networks in Multi-User Applications.

The '980 patent describes a system configuration in which thefunctionality of a monolithic server is distributed across multipleservers, each of which services a number of local users. Thus, whereas asingle server previously served as the source of all applicationinformation, such as game state, the '980 patent describes a situationin which the game server functionality is distributed across multiplecomputers. Users (on-line participants) are free to login to their mostconvenient server. In this way, there is no single “choke point” thatmight inhibit game play, and the bandwidth requirements for the onlinegame community are reduced. Even with the reduction in overall bandwidthdemands, the sheer volume of data that must be transmitted between usersto support the online environment can result in local pockets ofstrained bandwidth capacity.

Other multi-user applications provide a somewhat cumbersome userinterface and can be inefficient for operation of the applicationserver. For example, some online gaming portals provide links to gamesites of interest. The server that provides the gaming portal Web siteonly provides links to game pages or game Web sites. Thus, the gamingportal will redirect a user to the appropriate game server or host forinformation about ongoing games. This places additional operationalburdens on the game servers.

Unfortunately, current multi-user applications are not configured formaximum efficiency of operation and cannot support a number ofapplication users to make online gaming a viable opportunity. Thus,there is a need for an improved, more efficient online multi-userapplication environment. The present invention satisfies this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for creating an interactive gamingenvironment. In various embodiments, methods of the present inventionmay include initializing an interactive game application at a gameserver which is then characterized as having an active status, notifyinga lobby server concerning the active status of the game server,registering the application with a universe management server via thelobby server, and allowing users to join the interactive gamingenvironment. The users joining the interactive gaming environment may beidentified by a server key obtained from the game server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a computer network system on which is run amulti-user application configured in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a detail block of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the operations performed by the system ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that shows further system operations inaddition to those shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that shows further system operations inaddition to those shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computer in the network illustrated inFIG. 4, illustrating the hardware components.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer entertainment system in thenetwork illustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating the hardware components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION System Construction

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network system 100 comprised ofone or more network devices including one or more client computers 102who communicate with an authorization server 104 to gain access to thesystem, including participation with multi-user online applications. Asdescribed further below, the client computers can comprise computers102(a) configured in a classic client-server configuration, or in apeer-to-peer configuration, or can comprise computers 102(b) configuredin an integrated server configuration that combine the functionality ofother computers with the client computer functions. References to clientcomputers 102 will be understood to be a collective reference to eitherconfiguration, or references to one configuration subgroup 102(a),102(b) or the other will be to the specific subgroup specified. Anauthentication server determines whether authorization is warranted byconsulting a database server 106 for user records. The authenticationserver also communicates with a universe manager computer 108 thatmaintains records about online users and helps manage the onlineapplication environment, or universe.

After an authentication server 104 authorizes a user 102 to continue,the user can participate in an online multi-user application by firstcommunicating with lobby servers 110 to obtain application-levelinformation. The application-level information can include informationabout an application and its participating users. In the context of anonline game application, for example, the lobby server 110 can provideinformation about the game and about currently participating users.After selection of an online multi-user application, the user isredirected to an appropriate application server 112, from which the userreceives information sufficient to permit the user to join the onlineenvironment of the multi-user application. Thus, application levelinformation is maintained at a lobby server 110, rather than at eachindividual application server or host machine 112. Users can thereforelearn about and select a desired application, such as an aircraft onlinegame, through communication with the lobby server, leaving theapplication servers free to host their particular applications.

In FIG. 1, the lobby servers 108 and application servers 112 aredepicted as cloud shapes to indicate that the functionality of theseservers can be distributed across multiple computers who collectivelyprovide the functionality or can be provided by one or more independentnetwork computers. For example, the application servers 112 can comprisededicated application server computers 114 that function as adistributed memory engine (DME). As an alternative, as described furtherbelow, the application servers can comprise a combination of integratedservers 102(b) and application servers 112 acting in a proxy capacity toprovide an interface to the universe manager 108. Similarly, thefunction of the lobby servers 110 can be provided by dedicated lobbyservers that communicate directly with the clients 102, or the lobbyserver functions can be provided by other computers that communicatewith the clients, such as the authentication server or universe manager108.

Thus, the functionality of the game server is split between the lobbyserver and the application server. The lobby server can therefore reducethe bandwidth requirements and other operating demands on theapplication server. The application can comprise, for example, amulti-user interactive gaming application. This improves efficiency ofoperation.

In accordance with the invention, cross-user communications as well ascross-application communications in real-time are facilitated throughthe lobby server concept. A user who is participating with oneapplication can communicate with a user who is participating with adifferent application. Thus, a first user can be logged in to lobbyserver and can be participating in an aircraft online game environmentthrough an application server, while a second user can be logged in tothe same lobby server, but can be participating with a differentapplication in a different programming environment, such as a financialpackage or a different online game. The first user and the second usercan communicate with each other, if they wish, or they can choose toparticipate in their respective environments, isolated from each otherin terms of communications.

The universe manager 108 acts in an overall supervisory role,maintaining information about the users (clients) 102 who are registeredwith the system and logged on, communicating with the users via theauthorization servers 104, lobby servers 110, and application servers112. The lobby servers 110 provide application level information to theusers, thereby acting as an application portal and source of applicationinformation to the clients 102. For example, unlike typical game portalservers that merely provide links to game sites, the lobby serversprovide information about games in progress and can provide game-levelinformation, such as information about the players who are activelyparticipating in a game. The application servers 112 provide the actualapplication environment. For example, in the situation where the onlineapplication is a game, the application servers provide the actual gameplay environment comprising player participants, audio and graphicsinformation, and other data necessary for a client 102 to fullyparticipate in the online gaming experience for the game administered bythe particular application server 112. In this way, many tasks that mustbe performed to support system operation can be performed according tothe most appropriate machine to perform the task.

As noted above, the authentication servers 104 communicate with databaseservers 106 for authentication, application information, and the like.FIG. 2 illustrates details of the database servers and shows that thedatabase servers can comprise multiple servers and associated databasestorage. For example, FIG. 2 shows a database server 106 that includesan authentication data server 202 and an associated authenticationdatabase 204, a transaction data server 206 and associated transactiondatabase 208, and an application data server 210 and associatedapplication database 212. The operation and configuration of thesecomponents will be better understood with reference to the followingdescription.

System Operation

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are flow diagrams that illustrate the functioning ofthe system constructed in accordance with the invention to provideimproved operation of online multi-user applications.

In the first operation, represented by the flow diagram block 301, auser connects to a network domain name, such as a game portal or otherInternet site to attempt access and login to a multi-user application,such as an online game. In the next operation, the user is redirected toone of the authentication servers. This operation (represented by block302) can include operation through a load balancer or similarconfiguration for server workload management. At the next block 303, theuser is assigned a session key by an authentication server. The sessionkey will remain active during the current online session by the user andwill be associated with a privilege level, thereby providing a means forthe various system components (illustrated in FIG. 1) to determine thelevel of access to be granted to the user. The user then suppliesaccount login information to the authentication server, at block 304,and then the authentication server forwards an authentication request tothe authentication data server (of the database servers), as indicatedat the block 305. The account login involves a user's registered accountnumber or other identifier against which a user's right to access can bedetermined. At the next operation (block 306), the authenticationrequest is processed with appropriate load balancing and is directed toa particular one of the authentication servers.

At the next block 307, the authentication data server communicatesdirectly with the authentication database to determine whether theuser's login should be accepted. This operation can involve, forexample, checking the user's account history to ensure all appropriatefees have been paid and to ensure the user has all authorizations orqualifications to proceed. To maintain the user's history, thisoperation 307 also involves sending the transaction record (loginattempt) to the transaction data server for non-volatile storage. Thisrecording operation also can involve a load balancing operation.

The success or failure of the login attempt is reported back to theauthentication server, at the next block 308. The login result isforwarded back to the user and also to the transaction data server. Atthe next block 309, similar processing operations are repeated for theuser name login procedure. Yet another similar login sequence occurs forthe user's screen name, along with an application identification, asindicated at the block 310. If the screen name login is successful, thenthe authentication server will assign the user to a lobby server andwill also promote the session privilege level to the Universe Manager,so that the user will be granted all appropriate access during thesession. It should be noted that the authentication server is aware ofthe lobby servers that are available corresponding to the application IDprovided by the user, by requesting an appropriate application serverfrom the Universe Manager. The Universe Manager keeps track of theavailable lobby servers via “heartbeat” reports that are sent by lobbyservers to the Universe Manager continuously while the lobby servers areoperational. This processing is represented by the next block 310.

Next, at the block 311, the user disconnects from the authenticationserver and establishes communication with the assigned lobby server. Atthe block 312, the user verifies the session key that was obtained fromthe authentication server at block 303 and also verifies the applicationID with the assigned lobby server. The lobby server verifies the data,as well as the privilege level, with the Universe Manager. The user'sprivilege is upgraded upon successful verification.

In the next phase of system operation, at block 313, the user hassuccessfully completed login with a lobby server and therefore isentitled to participate in system-wide functions. These functions caninclude, for example, chat, group or community management,player-matching activities such as team or clan tasks, and outcome orcompetitive standings and ladder progress. Any requests from the userfor information regarding available chat channels, available games,location of other users, messaging functions, and the like, the requestis forwarded from the lobby server to the Universe Manager. If a requestfor information involves the non-volatile storage, then the request isforwarded to the appropriate database server (FIG. 2).

One of the system-wide functions that a user might want to participatein following successful connection with a lobby server can compriseusing an application. In the context of an online gaming environment,that application is a game. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat other online multi-user applications can be involved. As notedabove, the clients can participate in online gaming as either part of aclient-server configuration or peer-to-peer configuration, or as part ofan integrated application server and client configuration. FIG. 4relates to users who are operating in a client-server or peer-to-peerconfiguration, and FIG. 5 relates to users who are operating in anintegrated application server configuration.

In FIG. 4, the first operation (which occurs upon the user wanting tojoin a game after completion of the last block in FIG. 3), is for thelobby server to forward the user's application (game) request to theUniverse Manager. In the FIG. 4 processing, the client is configured asa classic client-server configuration or as a peer-to-peerconfiguration. The Universe Manager assigns the user to a game serverthat is appropriate for the requested game. The game servers keep theUniverse Manager apprised of their status via continuous, periodicheartbeat reports, in a fashion similar to that of the lobby servers. Inthis way, the Universe Manager is aware of system status and can manageand respond to requests from the lobby servers and application servers.After the first processing operation shown in FIG. 4 (block 414), theassigned application server assigns a server specific key to the user(block 415). The key provides an extra measure of security to preventunauthorized access. The authentication server asks either the UniverseManager or the assigned application server for the key, and forwards thekey to the user through the Universe Manager and to the lobby server.

In the next block 416, the user is connected with the assignedapplication server, providing it with the server-specific key itreceived from block 415. The user will be disconnected from theapplication server if the server-specific key does not match the recordsat the application server. If there is a match, the user is allowed toremain connected with the application server. It should be noted thatthe user remains connected to a lobby server throughout use of theapplication, such as during a game playing session. At block 417,periodic user reports are sent from an application-participating userback to the user's lobby server. In addition, the application server whois hosting the application for all participants (such as the game host)sends periodic reports on the status of the application to theapplication host. The lobby server and application server do notdirectly communicate, thereby better managing the processing load on thelobby server.

At the conclusion of the application session (block 418), the userdisconnects from the application server and returns to normalactivities, including all available lobby functions through the lobbyserver. As noted, these functions can include chat, group or communitymanagement, messaging, and the like. It should be noted that thesefunctions are available to the user at all times when the user isconnected to the lobby server, including during application use (e.g.,during game play).

If the user performs a logout procedure, or if the user is timed outfrom an active connection because of inactivity, the user's session iscleared from the active records of the Universe Manager. This isindicated at the next block, 419. If the user wishes to participate inanother application, the user must go through the authentication processonce again, including the login process.

Rather than operate in a network configuration in which applications areprovided by dedicated application servers, the network can also operatein a configuration in which the multi-user application is provided byintegrated servers. An integrated server refers to a user (client)machine that has been configured with an integrated server applicationthat provides the user machine with application server functionality. Asystem that implements this method of operation is described inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/704,514 by C. Guy, G. VanDatta, and J. Fernandes entitled “Application Development Interface forMulti-User Applications Executable Over Communication Networks” filedNov. 1, 2000. The disclosure of this application is hereby incorporatedby reference. As noted above, when a user wants to join a game, thesystem operation moves from the description of FIG. 3 to the descriptionof either FIG. 4 (dedicated application server) or FIG. 5 (integratedserver).

Turning now to FIG. 5, the first operation under the integrated serverconfiguration is for a user who wants to host an application (such as anonline game) to initialize an integrated server application that hasbeen installed on the user's computer. The integrated server applicationmakes a connection to an appropriate domain name, such as a game portalWeb site. The integrated server then executes an authentication processwith an authentication server, in a process similar to the initial loginprocess described in conjunction with FIG. 3. These operations arerepresented by the first block 514 of FIG. 5.

Upon successful authentication with the authentication server, thehosting user's integrated server application causes periodic serverreports to be transmitted to a proxy application server. As noted above,the proxy application server is included within the application servercloud 112 of FIG. 1. The proxy application server can comprise anapplication in addition to or integrated with the integrated serverapplication at the hosting user, or the proxy application server cancomprise a separate server that is another node of the FIG. 1 networkand that communicates with the hosting user's computer. In any case, theuser's integrated server application provides periodic, regular“heartbeat” reports to the proxy application server to confirm theoperation of the hosted application and to provide status information tothe proxy application server. The proxy application server communicateswith the Universe Manager, providing the Universe Manager with theapplication status information received from the hosting user machine.The Universe Manager includes these reports in its data collection, justas it would with similar reports from dedicated application servers andfrom any other integrated servers. These reporting operations arerepresented by the second block 515 of FIG. 5.

In the next operation, block 516, the user notifies its assigned lobbyserver of its status as an active application server. This new executingapplication will now be available over the network. The lobby serverthen registers this new application with the Universe Manager, whichadds the appropriate application information to its data collection.This operation is performed by the Universe Manager in a manner similarto what it would perform in response to any other server becomingavailable with a network application.

After the new application has been registered with the Universe Manager,the network nodes will become aware of the application throughrespective lobby servers. Therefore, the application becomes availablefor network users, who can join the program environment established bythe integrated server. For example, if the application is a multi-usergame, then other network users can join the on-going game, as managed bythe hosting user's integrated server. The process of joining a game inprogress involves the same operations as described above in conjunctionwith blocks 414, 415, 416, and 417 of FIG. 4. These operations involvecommunicating with an appropriate application server, receiving aserver-specific key, providing the server with that key, becomingauthorized and providing regular “heartbeat” reports to the lobbyserver. These integrated server operations are represented by the “join”block 517 of FIG. 5.

At the conclusion of the application session (block 518), aparticipating user can disconnect from the integrated server and returnto normal activities, including all available lobby functions throughthe lobby server. As noted, these functions can include chat, group orcommunity management, messaging, and the like. As noted above, thesefunctions are available to the user at all times when the user isconnected to the lobby server, including during application use (e.g.,during game play). If a hosting user (the integrated server) wishes towithdraw from hosting the application, the network system (FIG. 1) canimplement procedures as desired to ensure an orderly shut down of theapplication or an orderly transition to a different integrated serverthat continues on with the program environment of the hostedapplication.

If the user performs a logout procedure, or if the user is timed outfrom an active connection because of inactivity, the user's session iscleared from the active records of the Universe Manager. This isindicated at the next block, 519. If the user wishes to participate inanother application, the user must go through the authentication processonce again, including the login process.

Ladder Ranking

The application program interface that is shared in common with all thecomponents illustrated in FIG. 1 also includes provision for a ladderranking engine. A ladder ranking is a list of users that is organized orsorted according to a predetermined variable or metric. The ladderranking is most easily understood in the context of a gamingapplication, where the predetermined variable likely refers to wins,losses, points scored, and the like. As a user improves his or herperformance, the user's ranking will improve, meaning that the user willmove up a “ladder” of ranked users. Thus, the ladder ranking informationcan be used for various competitive purposes, such as contests andtournaments.

The ladder ranking information is collected via functionality in eachmulti-user application that periodically reports the application statusto the corresponding application server. The status can includeinformation such as progress of players in the game. The applicationservers then store the information to a system database that is indexedaccording to a user's account information and application currentlybeing used. This information is managed by a ladder engine that canoperate at any location of the network, for example, at the UniverseManager, and the data can be stored at data storage of the UniverseManager or in the database servers (FIG. 1).

The system interface preferably provides for any registered user torequest a ladder ranking, which will be provided through the ladderranking engine. The request can come from a user via an application withwhich the user is currently participating. This ensures thatnon-participants cannot falsely obtain the ladder ranking information.The ladder ranking requests can be received by a lobby server orapplication server from a user, and the request can be forwarded to theladder ranking engine at the Universe Manager or whatever other networkentity that manages the ladder rankings. When a ladder ranking list isrequested, all of the user accounts for the specified application aresorted based on the stored user performance data. The application statusinformation preferably includes multiple statistics, which can be storedsimultaneously in the database. For example, a gaming application cantrack wins, losses, points scored, points allowed, and other performancestatistics of interest. Each metric can be sorted on, thus generating aladder ranking according to the metric chosen by the user who requeststhe ladder ranking. Moreover, the ladder ranking engine provides sortingand retrieving of a ladder ranking in ascending or descending order. Forexample, a ladder ranking can be provided in order from most points toleast points, or from least points to most points.

The various servers and databases of the system have no knowledge aboutthe nature of the statistics. That is, the servers do not examine theunderlying data to understand the difference between wins and losses orpoints and goals. Rather, the various applications define the data setto be collected for that application, and the servers and databasessimply store the collected data in the database. Thus, each applicationwill define its own data collection format, which will be supported bythe database servers.

The data can be included in a 256-byte data field that is assigned toeach user's account for each application with which the systeminterfaces. For example, the application code can execute the ladderranking function by specifying data parameters of sort order, startbyte, end byte. Upon receiving a ladder ranking message with theseparameters, a server or database of the system will retrieve all datafields for all accounts associated with the calling application. Thedata in each data record between the start byte location and the endbyte location will be treated as an integer value. The sort operationwill then be performed on the retrieved data, in ascending or descendingorder depending on the value of a user-supplied sort order parameter.The sorted integer numbers can then be displayed to a user in accordancewith known headings for the integer data. For example, a particularapplication might store performance data as number of wins, followed bynumber of losses, followed by points scored, followed by points allowed.When the performance data is retrieved, the data can be parsed toextract the requested data for proper display. Other applications canstore different performance parameters in a different order, which willbe known to the corresponding application server. In this way, theladder ranking engine provides a powerful generic, cross-applicationladder rankings system.

Clans Engine

Another feature of the system described herein is a clans engine thatallows a designated user of any trusted application, a user referred toas a “leader”, to name and create a clan. The leader can then issueinvitations to other users for joining the clan. The system will queueup any invitations sent to registered users who are not online at thetime the invitation is sent, for delivery at the invitee's next login. Auser who receives a clan invitation can respond affirmatively ornegatively and, if desired, can become a member of the clan.

The system supports a variety of clan features. Members of a clan cansend private electronic messages to the members of the clan. The clanmessages can be stored on the servers of the system until delivery,which occurs as each member completes the next login process. The systempermits clans to elect new leaders and set up various organizationalstructures for their clan. Examples of organizational structures includedictatorships, where one leader is in charge of all decisions of theclan, or a democracy, where all members and the leader have equal votesin the clan decision making. The leader who initiates the clan canselect which of these, or other, configurations will be utilized.

All of the various clan data, including the clan membership list, clanactivity tracking, clan electronic messaging, and the like are saved bydatabase servers of the system. The clan functionality is accessedthrough the program interface in accordance with the present invention,in a manner similar to that described above for the ladder ranking data.This permits many discrete functions to be provided and specified ordeleted for each clan, making the composition rules and operation ofeach clan potentially exclusive. Moreover, the program interface permitsthe clan functionality to be used in a generic way for multipleapplications. For example, in a gaming context, the same team or clanfunctionality can be applied whether the application is a flightsimulator, car racing game, or action-shooter game.

In addition, multiple applications can share the same clans andmembership servers and databases at the same time, without interferingwith each other. User accounts can be associated with more than one clanin the same application or in clans that extend across multipleapplications, without any impact to the user account or to the clanfunctionality.

The clan engine in accordance with the present invention manages theclan data using server-side processing, rather than relying on offline,Web-based clan management techniques or client-side arbitration, withnothing built into the actual application itself. Thus, any applicationdeveloped for the program interface described herein can utilize theclan processing that is built into the interface specification, servers,and databases of the FIG. 1 system.

Network Device Construction

The network computer devices (clients and servers) shown in the blockdiagram of FIG. 1 comprise nodes of a computer network system 100. FIG.6 is a block diagram of a computer in the system 100 of FIG. 1,illustrating the hardware components included in one of the computersthat provide the functionality of the servers and clients. Those skilledin the art will appreciate that the servers and clients illustrated inFIG. 1 can all have a similar computer construction, or can havealternative constructions consistent with the capabilities andrespective functions described herein.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary computer 600 such as might comprise any of thenetwork computers. Each computer 600 operates under control of a centralprocessor unit (CPU) 602, such as a “Pentium” microprocessor andassociated integrated circuit chips, available from Intel Corporation ofSanta Clara, Calif., USA. A computer user can input commands and datafrom a keyboard and computer mouse 604, and can view inputs and computeroutput at a display 606. The display is typically a video monitor orflat panel display. The computer 600 also includes a direct accessstorage device (DASD) 608, such as a hard disk drive. The memory 610typically comprises volatile semiconductor random access memory (RAM).Each computer preferably includes a program product reader 612 thataccepts a program product storage device 614, from which the programproduct reader can read data (and to which it can optionally writedata). The program product reader can comprise, for example, a diskdrive, and the program product storage device can comprise removablestorage media such as a magnetic floppy disk, a CD-R disc, a CD-RW disc,or DVD disc.

Each computer 600 can communicate with the others over a computernetwork 620 (such as the Internet or an intranet) through a networkinterface 618 that enables communication over a connection 622 betweenthe network 620 and the computer. The network interface 618 typicallycomprises, for example, a Network Interface Card (NIC) or a modem thatpermits communications over a variety of networks.

The CPU 602 operates under control of programming steps that aretemporarily stored in the memory 610 of the computer 600. When theprogramming steps are executed, the computer performs its functions.Thus, the programming steps implement the functionality of therespective client or server. The programming steps can be received fromthe DASD 608, through the program product storage device 614, or throughthe network connection 622. The program product storage drive 612 canreceive a program product 614, read programming steps recorded thereon,and transfer the programming steps into the memory 610 for execution bythe CPU 602. As noted above, the program product storage device cancomprise any one of multiple removable media having recordedcomputer-readable instructions, including magnetic floppy disks andCD-ROM storage discs. Other suitable program product storage devices caninclude magnetic tape and semiconductor memory chips. In this way, theprocessing steps necessary for operation in accordance with theinvention can be embodied on a program product.

Alternatively, the program steps can be received into the operatingmemory 610 over the network 620. In the network method, the computerreceives data including program steps into the memory 610 through thenetwork interface 618 after network communication has been establishedover the network connection 622 by well-known methods that will beunderstood by those skilled in the art without further explanation. Theprogram steps are then executed by the CPU 602 thereby comprising acomputer process.

It should be understood that all of the network computers of the networksystem 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 can have a construction similar to thatshown in FIG. 6, so that details described with respect to the FIG. 6computer 600 will be understood to apply to all computers of the system100. It should be appreciated that any of the network computers can havean alternative construction, so long as the computer can communicatewith the other computers illustrated in FIG. 4 and can support thefunctionality described herein.

For example, with reference to FIG. 7, the client computers 102 cancomprise a computer entertainment system, such as a video game consolesystem 700. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary hardwareconfiguration of the video game console system 700.

The video game console system 700 includes a central processing unit(CPU) 701 that is associated with a main memory 705. The CPU 701operates under control of programming steps that are stored in theOS-ROM 760 or transferred from a game program storage medium to the mainmemory 705. The CPU 701 is configured to process information and executeinstructions in accordance with the programming steps.

The CPU 701 is communicatively coupled to an input/output processor(IOP) 720 via a dedicated bus 725. The IOP 720 couples the CPU 701 to anOS ROM 760 comprised of a non-volatile memory that stores programinstructions, such as an operating system. The instructions arepreferably transferred to the CPU via the IOP 720 at start-up of themain unit 700.

The CPU 701 is communicatively coupled to a graphics processing unit(GPU) 710 via a dedicated bus 715. The GPU 710 is a drawing processorthat is configured to perform drawing processes and formulate images inaccordance with instructions received from the CPU 701. For example, theGPU 710 can render a graphics image based on display lists that aregenerated by and received from the CPU 701. The GPU can include a bufferfor storing graphics data. The GPU 710 outputs images to an AV outputdevice 790 that is connected to the console system 700.

The IOP 720 controls the exchange of data among the CPU 700 and aplurality of peripheral components in accordance with instructions thatare stored in an IOP memory 730. The peripheral components can includeone or more input controllers 722, a memory card 740, a USB 745, and anIEEE 1394 serial bus 750. Additionally, a bus 755 is communicativelycoupled to the IOP 720. The bus 755 is linked to several additionalcomponents, including the OS ROM 760, a sound processor unit (SPU) 765,an optical disc control unit 775, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 780.

The SPU 765 is configured to generate sounds, such as music, soundeffects, and voices, in accordance with commands received from the CPU701 and the IOP 720. The SPU 765 can include a sound buffer in whichwaveform data is stored. The SPU 765 generates sound signals andtransmits the signals to speakers.

The disc control unit 775 is configured to control a program reader,which can comprise, for example, an optical disk drive that acceptsremovable storage media such as a magnetic floppy disk, an opticalCD-ROM disc, a CD-R disc, a CD-RW disc, a DVD disk, or the like.

The memory card 740 can comprise a storage medium to which the CPU 701can write and store data. Preferably, the memory card 740 can beinserted and removed from the IOP 720. A user can store or save datausing the memory card 740. In addition, the video game system 700 ispreferably provided with at least one hard disk drive (HDD) 780 to whichdata can be written and stored.

A data I/O interface, such as an IEEE 1394 serial bus 750 or a universalserial bus (USB) 745 interface, is preferably communicatively coupled tothe IOP 720 in order to allow data to be transferred into and out of thevideo game system 700, such as to the network illustrated in FIG. 1.

The present invention has been described above in terms of a presentlypreferred embodiment so that an understanding of the present inventioncan be conveyed. There are, however, many configurations for the systemand application not specifically described herein but with which thepresent invention is applicable. The present invention should thereforenot be seen as limited to the particular embodiment described herein,but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has wideapplicability with respect to multi-user applications generally. Allmodifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements andimplementations that are within the scope of the attached claims shouldtherefore be considered within the scope of the invention.

1. A method for ladder ranking in a game application, the methodcomprising: receiving a request for a ladder ranking report from a userregistered with the game application; retrieving all user accounts forthe game application associated with the request; sorting allperformance data for all the retrieved user accounts for the gameapplication associated with the request, wherein the performance data issorted based on one or more metrics of stored performance data;displaying the sorted performance data for all of the retrieved useraccounts based on the one or more metrics, wherein the one or moremetrics are identified in the request for the ladder ranking report